Chapter 3 – Human Body Systems Lesson 2 – The Digestive System © Brent Coley 2009 | www.mrcoley.com

What is digestion? Digestion: breaking down food into simpler substances that your body can use

What is digestion? Your teeth break down food into smaller pieces. Saliva in your mouth helps break down food into nutrients (food your cells can use). The process continues in other organs.

What is digestion? The nutrients pass into your blood, and the blood carries them to your cells.

The Digestive System Mouth Esophagus Stomach Small Intestine Large Intestine

Where does digestion begin? Digestion begins in the mouth. The food then enters the esophagus, a long muscular tube that moves food into the stomach.

Where does digestion begin? Food then enters the stomach. The walls of the stomach produce chemicals that further break down food. Muscles in the walls squeeze (contract) over & over, mixing food with the chemicals. Food becomes a soupy liquid.

How is food broken down further? Food then moves into the small intestine, a long, coiled tube-like organ. Other organs like the pancreas and liver add digestive juices to the small intestine. This is where nutrients pass into the blood.

What are the parts of the large intestine? Food that is not digested (waste) moves into the large intestine. Solid waste (feces) is then pushed out of the body.

All images courtesy of Microsoft Office Online.